A relieved mother recently recounted a heartwarming moment when her baby girl said goodbye to a birthmark on her forehead. However, he did not immediately face condemnation from medical experts.
A rare birthmark
Meet Celine Casey and her two-year-old daughter, Vienna Shaw, who was born with a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) on her forehead, a rare birthmark that affects one in every 20,000 infants. Celine was concerned when she discovered the birthmark, believing she had made a mistake throughout her pregnancy and had no idea what the abnormality meant for her kid. What she did know was that she wanted it removed, so her kid could grow up without feeling different.
Although the birthmark had no bearing on Brookshaw’s medical well-being, Casey recognized that it could have an affect on her mental well-being as she grew older and met other children who were curious about her condition. Celine noted that at times, the family would cover Vienna’s face to conceal her birthmark: “We went out daily with her, and we got a few stares.”
But the surgery wasn’t easy to achieve.
When the family sought the NHS for aid, they received discouraging feedback. Physicians were unable to proceed with the operation to remove the mark since it would qualify as a cosmetic procedure.
But the parents did not view it that way. They were terrified of other children teasing her, which harmed her mental health from a young age. Casey was also scared that if they did not remove the birthmark, her daughter might develop resentment toward her and her boyfriend.
The parents decided to act on their own and raise the funds privately. After creating a crowdfunding campaign, they raised $52,000 in 24 hours. However, hospital expenses doubled in 2020, necessitating an additional US$27,000. With a new financing proposal, they were able to meet their target.
They faced hard times with doctors.
A disagreement between the medical staff and the parents has resulted in a split of opinion. Vienna’s parents wanted the mark removed surgically, but the surgeon declined. The surgeon believes that only the youngster, once of legal age, should make such a decision.
Following the revelation of this dispute, Vienna’s father, Daniel Brookshaw, voiced dissatisfaction with the doctor’s assessment. The doctor also reported speaking with a dermatologist, who agreed with the surgeon, stating that the mark poses no threat to Vienna’s health and is not malignant.
But the surgery was successfully done.
Now that Vienna is two years old, her physicians have successfully removed her birthmark, leaving only a slight scar between her brows. Casey routinely updates her social media followers on tiny Shaw’s scar and recovery process, with many noting on how adorable her little child is.
Casey informed that, despite the fact that the birthmark had been removed, they still needed to travel between cities to assess the healing of her scar and see whether she needed any other surgeries beyond the three she had already had. Shaw is now living like an average two-year-old.
